NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 2 — The government has confirmed that nine bodies buried at Lang’ata Cemetery on January 29, 2026, reportedly claimed by community-based organizations (CBOs), are under investigation to establish whether they belonged to street-connected persons.
The Ministry of Gender, Culture, and Children Services Cabinet Secretary Hannah Cheptumo expressed condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the deceased and emphasized the government’s commitment to upholding the dignity of all lives.
Preliminary reports indicate that the deceased included eight adult males and one infant, the ministry said in a statement on Monday.
The bodies had reportedly been held in City Mortuary and Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital Mortuary for several months in 2025 before burial arrangements were facilitated by well-wishers and CBOs.
“The Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services was not informed of these developments before the burials,” CS Cheptumo said.
“At this stage, no official post-mortem reports or verified medical documentation have been availed to confirm the identities, causes of death, or circumstances surrounding the hospitalization and demise of the deceased.”
Multi-agency probe
The government pledged to work closely with Nairobi City County, the Ministry of Health, and other relevant agencies to establish accurate records, including gender, age, identity, and cause of death, and to confirm whether the individuals were part of street-connected populations.
CS Cheptumo reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting vulnerable persons, highlighting progress in rehabilitating street families.
According to the 2025 National Census of Street Families, the population has declined from 46,936 in 2018 to 18,049, due to coordinated efforts in rescue, rehabilitation, psychosocial support, education, and economic empowerment.
“The Ministry of Gender, Culture, and Children Services reiterates its commitment to strengthening systems for early identification, rescue, care, protection, and reintegration of vulnerable persons, and to ensuring that all deaths are handled with dignity, accountability, and in accordance with the law. Investigations into the recent incidents are ongoing, and the public will be informed of verified findings in due course,” Cheptumo added.
The Ministry also urged stakeholders and the public to collaborate with government agencies in reporting vulnerable persons in need of support.
